The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-01-28
VERY PRIVATE"
The Engagement" Between Aleck
Fanshawe and Louise.

~ WIS III tHt Iutuiilil tilit TIE news
Of the loss Of the ship Albatross reached
the small town If Haven. She had
foundercd on her way 70 Calcutta. and
Aleck Fanshawe was ON board as super
cargo.
1T isn't rs though Squire Fanshawc
hadn't other sons.' commiseratcd a
ncighbor. when the blinds were pulled
down and Grape tied on the knocker at
the big stone mansion. and prayers
were offered in church for the bcrcaycd
family and friends. Every body in
town. so 10 speak. turned out to church
on that September morning to see how
the family took il. and to be able to
criticisc the funeral sermon. The Fam
shawes had been a gay. worldly crowd.
and this was their first sorrow. and
those who had seen them in prosperity
and JOY wanted to behold the effect 81
the reverse; but they proved to be Il
family who did not wear the heart on
the sleeve: they conducted themselves
bravely behind their weeds, and re-
strained their tears till they might flow
in private. The only excitement II the
occasion. however. was worthy ~ the
expectations u their friends. The fam
lily filed into church. black a. grief and
Grape could make them. There was
John and his mother, Sue and Hide
gar,lc; but who was this other on the
old Squirc's arm, bowed with emotion,
more sable than them all. in widows
vail and capP Who? Why. 1t was only
Louise Turner, whom they had always
known. Why was she in widows weeds
and on the Squirc's arm? What had
happened to her? There was lively
gossip, you may. be sure. that day on
the way home from church.
II remember he was kind Of attent-
i've to Louise Turner one SPELL re-
hccted Mrs. Ames.
That's So" echoed Mrs. Blake.
Don't you remember he took her to a
concert over 70 DanvcrS? He has NJ
ways known her; and like as not there
Wos something between them"
$50 he has always known every 9TH
er girl in town." said Mrs. Blunt. the
skeptic; "and he has been just as at-
tentivc to half q dozen others. as far as
] can sec.''
Yes" acknowledged Mrs. Amcs. re-
iuctantly, ''he was attentive to all Of
them on and or; but then man may
DC attentive to dozen. you know,
while ne only cares for one. It's
odd; woman couldn't do II; Il would
bore her horribly--that is, unless she's
flirt.r
well. Of course it's true" sighed
Mrs. Blunt, ''or else she wouldn't be
IN widows weeds and In the Squirc's
pew; but she's the last girl | thought
Aleck would care for. l can't reconcile
myself to it,
The interest and surprise II this
event seemed TO subtract something
from the solemnity Of the occasion. Il
was not 50 wonderful that Alcck Fam
shawe should die as that he should
nave been engaged to Louise Turner,
ana nc one ever have guessed II. Il
perplcxcd and disturbed Mrs. Blunt.
sne could hardly tell why. Perhaps
she was disappointed that Aleck should
na'e cared for such shallow girl as
louise; and then surprise has an irri-
a''ng effect upon some natures. She
"pura'd herself for having 50 little sym
p"thv Tor Louise in such tremendous
sorrow Louise was pretty; every body
sa'd Louise was pretty. and young men
are easily pleased. Doubtless il had
occurred AZ the last moment before his
departure, and Louise had waited for
rs return to declare 1t. Alcck had
"ern the best match In town, and. love
aside this was great blow Cor Louise.
vain whom every body was bound 10
sympathize. But Mr.. Blunt was dis
satisfied with the quality A. well as
Quantity q her own sympathy.
~ seems" said : ncighbor, who
happened In 70 talk Il ovcr---"it seems
tnat Louise heard the rumor and
usned up 20 squire Fanshawc's TO
NOW the truth, and when II was vcri-
W. she went straight into Mysteries
saa confessed that thew had been pri-